Job: NATIONAL CONSULTANT - JOURNALIST FELLOWSHIP (ELECTRONIC MEDIA) UNDER GREEN BRICK PROJECT

Location :

Home based with frequent field visit, BANGLADESH

Application Deadline :

21-Oct-13

Additional Category

Management

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Post Level :

National Consultant

Languages Required :

English  

Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)

03-Nov-2013

Expected Duration of Assignment :

3 months

Background

Trend data of the last decade show demand for bricks rising steadily at about 5.28% annually. The main driver of this growth has been the construction industry. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, total brick production in Bangladesh is estimated to be over 8.66 billion bricks annually with an estimated sale value of around US$450 million, almost 1% of Bangladesh’s GDP. Growth of the brick industry has been estimated at 5.3% growth over the last decade; this growth trend is likely to continue over the next decade.

Brick making in Bangladesh is a highly energy intensive and carbon emitting activity. It is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Bangladesh estimated to be on the order of 6.4 million tonnes of CO2 annually. Brick making operations in Bangladesh are mostly within the informal SME sector, and do not have financial or strong regulatory incentives to become more energy efficient. There is lack of supporting regulations, fiscal incentives and standards to encourage more energy-efficient practices and technologies. Except for some sporadic efforts to regulate the industry, government has made little effort to establish effective boundary limit emission standards.

Prior to 1989, brick making was an unregulated industry in Bangladesh. Since then the government has introduced some measure of control by legislating the “Brick Burning (Control) Act 1989 (Act #8 of 1989). The main goal of the Act was to eliminate the unrestricted, rampant use of wood fuel in brick kilns. As a first step, it was necessary to bring brick kilns within the purview of the law and greater scrutiny. This was done by introducing registration and permitting requirements. The Act was amended in 1992 and again in 2001. Each amendment sought to tighten the regulations and introduce a greater measure of emissions restrictions. The Act forbade establishing a kiln within 3 km from an upazila (smallest administrative unit) boundary limit or clusters of homesteads numbering more than 50 homes. It also introduced clauses making the use of firewood in kilns illegal. Enforcement, however, has been lax due to limited numbers of enforcement staff.

Brickfields are also regulated through the Environmental Conservation Rules (1997) which require an Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE) and an Environmental Monitoring Plan (EMP) be carried prior to issue of an environmental clearance from the DoE. The National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP) of the early 1990s led to the Environmental Conservation Act 1995 and Rules 1997 that included legislation to control brick kiln emissions. NEMAP identified brick kilns as the largest source of stationary pollution in the country and sought to regulate them. The Rice Policy, which has been recently drafted and is under final approval by the government, seeks to control land degradation by recommending re-location of brickfields to non-productive or low-productive land.

Standing at this situation, UNDP Bangladesh along with other stakeholders raised huge awareness demanding an apposite Brick Manufacturing Act. Following this the Government of Bangladesh’s Department of Environment initiated the process to pass Brick Manufacturing Act which has already passed in the Cabinet titled `Brick Manufacturing Act 2013’, and process is underway to raise it in Parliament as Bill to pass. Simultaneously, Department of Environment has initiated its process to ban traditional brick kilns by September 2013. On the other hand, development partners and other stakeholders are active to shift the BMI environment friendly and energy efficient. All of this initiatives.

However, all of these efforts will require efficient and on ground problem analysis and solution identification which must be done with the reflection of views of all stakeholders. These can be most effectively done by investigative reporting and editorials of media. Media coverage can generate immediate results in solving problems and in taking right initiatives.

Investigative report in media helps to move towards a change through an informed decision making process.

Strategic Reasoning for the Journalist Fellowship programme:

Soon after its inception the project has been concentrating immensely to generate media interest on the intervention areas. Consequently, the project and its issues has been receiving ample media coverage resulting notable policy response. The project conducted an opinion sharing meeting on “Environment Pollution through Brick Kilns in Ecologically Critical Areas (ECA) and Protected Areas (PA) and possible prevention” on December 13, 2011 at Cox’s Bazar. The meeting was attended by GoB Officials, Local Credible persons, Youth representatives, CSOs, Media and other key relevant persons. GREEN Brick project also took some Senior Reporters from leading national media. 12 news reports were published and broadcasted in both national electronic and print media illustrating the issue. Leading national daily “The Daily Star” published a news story on December 22, 2011 and an editorial on December 23, 201 illustrating the issue.

Based on these in-depth media coverage Bangladesh Supreme Court ruled a suo-moto (self-motivated legal move by the highest level of judiciary) asking “Why government should not be directed to remove such brick-kiln in 11 district of ECA” on March 15, 2012. This is the first legal step ever of the judiciary based on the project initiatives which will serve as a land-mark outcome in the context of EEK promotion in Bangladesh.

In 2012, several communication and awareness measures have been initiated by the project that has attracted media attention round the year. Hence, notable media coverage conveyed the relevant project information to a large number of people of home and abroad. Total 69 news reports published and broadcasted covering project events on national and international media houses. Besides, numbers of media reports related to environment, energy and BMI issues covered by media which draws attention of stakeholders, especially Policy Makers. As a result, respective GoB institutions took necessary initiatives. Based on the experience, GREEN Brick project is launching “Journalist Fellowship” under its Media sensitization and partnership activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives:

• To broadcast series of news reports on BMI revealing existing problems and their cause as well as the required steps for ensuring an effective shifting of environment friendly technology in BMI.
• To enhance pressure to Government and other relevant actors to take appropriate initiatives for ensuring an effective shifting of policy towards an environment friendly technology.
• Strengthen media relation.

Scope of work and expected outputs / deliverables:

Green Fellowship for Journalist is an activity of GREEN Brick project, UNDP Bangladesh aims to reveal the existing problems and their cause as well as the required steps for ensuring an effective shifting of environment friendly technology in BMI. Under this activity two regular journalists, one from a leading national print media and another from an electronic media, will be awarded as the fellow of GREEN brick project, titled as ‘Green Fellow’, who will work closely with the PMU of the project and will be responsible for investigative reporting related to BMI.

Green Fellow from electronic media will work in consultation with the Fellow from the print media and PMU. This working modality is aimed to ensure comprehensive presence in media and raise dialogues for positive change.

• At least two investigative reports or one series of investigative report broadcast in respective TV. Reports should be objectively prepared.
• At least one discussion/talk show broadcast in his/her TV following the respective report.
• News reports should focus on Brick Manufacturing Act, Environment, Technology shifting in BMI and Green Development.
• A Completion Report must be submitted to the GREEN Brick project within one week after completion of three month’s assignment.

Reporting Responsibilities:

• The GREEN Fellows will work closely with Fellow from print media and PMU of GREEN Brick project.
• S/he will report directly to the Project Manager through consultation with Fellow from print media.
• Communications Officer of the project with coordinate with the Fellow.
• The Fellow will work in coordination with the Fellow from the print media, so that a coordinated effort will result positive effect among the policy makers and other relevant stakeholders.

Duty Station: The duty station will be home based and numbers of visit in field will be required.

Supervision and Performance Evaluation: The fellow will report to Project Manager of GREEN Brick Project for day to day performance and approval of the deliverables / outputs.

Competencies

• Fluency in English and Bangla.
• The incumbent must be a journalist working in any leading national daily newspaper as a regular staff.
• Having proven exposure to work directly on the issues of BMI, environment, energy etc.
• Having at least one news report broadcasted on TV channel that has created visible impact on regard to policy, social, economic and other relevant issue.
• Must be in a position to identify the strategy to select right issue to cover, to investigate and to report properly on mentioned issues.
• Should be highly analytical and can present report explicitly.
• Having knowledge on the socio-political and economic situation, initiatives of the Government of the country as well as familiar with technological shifting, environment, energy efficiency etc.
• Must be willing to work as a TEAM.
• Must be willing to travel anywhere in the country to collect information for reporting.
• Should be a committed individual and committed to continue work on this issue even after completion of assignment.
• Must have approval from the authority of respective media for availing the fellowship.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

• Master's degree in a relevant field such as Communication, Journalism, Development studies, Statistics, Sociology, Environmental Management/Studies or related discipline from a recognized University;

Experience:

• Preferably 3 years of experience in Journalism.
• Solid knowledge in the areas of BMI, environment, energy, climate mitigation, economic development; with some knowledge and work experience health, gender and poverty analysis areas.
• Experience in brick making industry and energy efficient brick making industry will be an asset.

Evaluation of the Candidates: Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology: 

Cumulative analysis: The candidates will be evaluated through Cumulative Analysis method. When using the weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: 

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and 
b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. 

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for Financial Evaluation. 

Technical Evaluation Criteria (Total 70 marks)

• Educational Qualification (15 marks)
• Year of relevant experience (15 marks)
• Proven knowledge of environment, energy, climate mitigation, economic development; with knowledge and work experience on energy efficient brick making technology (20 marks)
• News report on relevant issue broadcasted on TV (20 marks)

Financial Evaluation (Total 30 marks) 
All technical yqualified proposals will be scored out 30 based on the formula provided below. The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals received points according to the following formula: 
                                                   p y (μ/z) 
where: 
p points for the financial proposal being evaluated 
y maximum number of points for the financial proposal 
μ price of the lowest priced proposal 
z price of the proposal being evaluated

Documents to be included when submitting the Proposals: 

Interested individual consultants MUST submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications along with CV containing only one file:

• Cover letter, explaining why he/she is the most suitable for the work. (max – 1 page)
• Technical proposal. Provide a brief methodology and approach on how he/she will approach and conduct the work (max– 2 pages). It’s recommended that the Proposal provides the information against the Technical evaluation.
• Copy of at least one by line report published in national daily.
• A letter from proper authority permitting her/him to work as a GREEN Fellow simultaneously with her/his current job.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

More Info and Application